I am reading “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle (or rather i should say “listening” to “A New Earth” since i have it downloaded to my ipod). It’s amazing, it has made me kinda quiet and somewhat pensive all day because i realize how much of my ego reigns over my life in my day to day interactions, in my writing, in my poetry, in my relationships.

The book teaches the reader a new language of self without the presence of the Ego; and this is a language that i hope to learn; but i am lost as to the “how-to” go about practicing this process. And so while i realize that there are many places in my life where the Ego has been eradicated, i have also become aware of the places in my life where Ego is very much present and practically dictating and affecting my interactions with the world.

There’s a chapter in the book where he speaks of “ownership” he uses the example of Native Americans and their relationship to land; how they felt “at the service” of the land, while Europeans when stealing the land from the Natives felt that it (the land) was at service to them; and by the rest of society affirming your ownership of a piece of land, or an object, or an animal or even a person, then these possessions become something that one uses as a way to identify oneself; and so while consciously you believe that these things belong to you; subconsciously these “possessions” enlarge the Ego, losing your true self in your attachment to these. I realize how it is easy for me to detach myself from material possessions however, it is people that i have a difficult time detaching myself from. “My mother” “My Brother” “My Boyfriend” “My Best Friend” that i am working to love and to care for without attachment. Attachment leads to addiction, leads to co-dependency and co-dependency feeds the Ego. To love, to give and to be vulnerable with no expectation; with no fear of loss, is to do so from the spirit self, the true self that is often so clouded by the Ego.

I remembered an experience with an ex-boyfriend who was a very well known artist. I was so proud of his accoplishments and his ability as an artist that even though the relationship was unhealthy, i was attached to him because saying that i was “his girlfriend” made me feel like i was a better artist, and even a better person worthy of him being with; and i realized that this was a clear example of my Ego’s attachment to something (or in this case, someone) who i falsely believed made me a better, cooler, smarter, more creative person for being with him; and while my Ego was so consumed with this false belief, i was staying in a relationship that was in actuality holding me back from trully experiencing my higher self. What can i say?...I had an “Aaaahaaa” moment. And this “AHaaa” moment then allowed me to also realize how far i have come, and what a beautiful and positive loving relationship i am able to participate in, where Ego is barely present.

Anyways, i could keep ranting about this book...(and i probably will in future Blogs, since i am not even in Chapter 4 yet)....but i will leave this topic with this last thought....in the book he explains why he decided to title it “A new earth” he then quotes a passage from the bible where Jesus says “A new heaven A new earth” which he interprets as follows: if we can elevate our consciousness and become aware of our Egos to the point where our Egos become “Old Patterns” instead of “Egos” then we will have created a “new heaven” as our consciousness, and furthermore, if we can interact with the rest of the world from this new conscious state, then we will have created “A New Earth”
So why am i talking about a book in my transamerica blog...well i guess being here, and having 5-8 hours on a bicycle, connecting to everything around me, allows me the privilege of being able to absorb, to question, to listen, to understand, and this book has been the highlight of this traveling day!

What else happened today?
We had a tail wind which made us go at a faster pace than usual.
We broke our own record today, averaging 11mph.
I counted over 7 dead snakes on the road
And finally (after a week of craving) i ate spaghetti!!!
We beat the rain,
And spent $15 over our daily budget.
I spoke to my little brother on the phone this morning and he read a book to me.
Saw a bunch of dead deer heads hanging like paitnings on numerous supermarket and restaurant walls. Saw rifles inside a car.
No shower today.
Raining over our tent as i am writing this Blog.
I fed a baby calf yesterday at a ranch where we stopped and waited for the rain to pass.....
OH....AND we came up with our Team Name for the duration of this trip...and possibly for future ones as well...we are “TEAM PERUBA”

Please comment on our team name and any other suggestions that you may have.